What is the advantage of having all these lineages of dzogchen? Nyingma has so so so many. Nyingma teachers will often have Longchen Nyingthig and Dudjom Tersar. Then all the Kama and Rinchen Ter dzo. Is this what to look for in a teacher? And as a nyingma student also to receive all that? I remember the Rinchen Ter Dzo was $3000 in Alameda. That's really steep. It's a bit intimidating. What to do?

What is the advantage of having all these different lineages of Kagyu teachings? There are so many. And these different methods--Drikung's Gongchik and the "FiveFold Mahamudra," Kamtsang's Ngedon Gyamtso, Drukpa's "Six Spheres" tradition, and the Shangpa's "Amulet Box...."

With regard to all the Nyingma traditions, well, Guru Rinpoche seems to have thought widespread and myriad terma manifestations was a good idea. As for "who to look for" as a teacher, I'm not sure the answers are any different for a Nyingma Lama, than they would be for a Lama from any other tradition.

No one can possibly practice all the teachings in the Rinchen Terdzo. Not even Kongtrul, who received and compiled them all, not even Khyentse Wangpo, who spurred him on and in fact gave him many of the empowerments in the collection.

Nyingmapas, in particular, have a special regard for the "Path of Empowerment"--given the View of Dzogchen, and the customary Empowerments (esp. the Rigpa'i Tselwang) often included in Dzogchen systems, --and therefore the chance to obtain an entire cycle--or cycles, in the case of Rinchen Terdzo, -- is seen as potentially equivalent to a period of practice. This is a bit different than the Sarma view of empowerments, in general terms, though of course Sarma lineages admit to the possibility of instant realization upon conferral of empowerment.

If one thinks about all the empowerments, and the sheer amount of time and energy, invested in the bestowal of the Rinchen Terdzo, $3000 doesn't seem like much to me. But everyone has their view, and their priorities.

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What is the advantage of having all these lineages of dzogchen? Nyingma has so so so many. Nyingma teachers will often have Longchen Nyingthig and Dudjom Tersar. Then all the Kama and Rinchen Ter dzo. Is this what to look for in a teacher? And as a nyingma student also to receive all that? I remember the Rinchen Ter Dzo was $3000 in Alameda. That's really steep. It's a bit intimidating. What to do?

You don't need to do anything, everything is complete in the sublime Drikung lineage.

It is not necessary for those of us, like myself, who are not lamas, to receive the Rinchen Terdzod or the Nyingma Kama wangs. For Nyingma lineage holders it is very important, because they may then be called upon to give the empowerment or reading transmission in the future. People like me just want to go to receive potent blessings from Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche, because my practice needs all the help it can get. In addition, he may (or may not) say a few words that will illuminate this beautiful thing we call the Nyingma.

I practice and study both the Longchen Nyingthig and the Dudjom Tersar, because I wanted to make a close connection with a great Longchen Nyingthig lama after I already had one perfect root lama in the Tersar Lineage... so I undertook training in that as well. I haven't been able to detect any difference whatsoever between them. It definitely opened the door to studying the great literature of Jigme Lingpa, which I hope to continue. Wow! I wouldn't recommend undertaking more than one path of training to other householders, it's just that it wasn't optional for me because of undeniable connections.

Yes the Bay area has an incredible selection of teachers and practice groups! Those of you who live there are very fortunate.

No, it's not random. A poster above him asked about lamas in the Bay Area.

My bad, sorry

In order to ensure my mind never comes under the power of the self-cherishing attitude,I must obtain control over my own mind. Therefore, amongst all empowerments, the empowerment that gives me control over my mind is the best,and I have received the most profound empowerment with this teaching.-Atisha Dipamkarabrtsal ba'i bkhra drin

OK, thanks a lot! I've been wanting to meet Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche for a while now, so I'm glad that his new schedule will be posted soon. I've been to see Anam Thubten several times, and I think he is a very, very good teacher. In fact, I think I would like to study more intensively with him, but I'm not exactly sure what opportunities are available.

A person once asked me why I would want to stop rebirth. "It sounds pretty cool. Being able to come back. Who wouldn't want to be reborn."I replied. "Wanting to be reborn is like wanting to stay in a jail cell, when you have the chance to go free and experience the whole wide world. Does a convict, on being freed from his shabby, constricting, little cell, suddenly say "I really want to go back to jail and be put in a cell. It sounds pretty cool. Being able to come back. Who wouldn't want that?"

In some way, regarding compassionate wisdom, the secrecy can also be a bit explained by this funny example/metaphor about meditation. I think it all starts from being aware for own mind protection.

"...But as Shantideva said, it's not something impossible, you can do it. It's like drinking alcohol. If you have never drunk alcohol in the past, then what do you have to do? If you want to become a person who drinks alcohol, then what do you have to do? You have to find the right master, someone who goes to the pub every now and then and you have to hang around with him or her, then this person will give you the transmission. In the beginning some of that alcohol might burn your throat. But that is necessary if you want to be a diligent follower; you have to go through this tolerance. If your master is very compassionate and skilful he might not give you a whole bottle of alcohol at once because that will put you off. Then you will never touch it again. But if he is skilful he will give you maybe one or two sips every day. Then six months later, maybe you can drink half a glass. About a year later you will speak every language in the bar.... ....... "